Common Name: |
Damask Rose |
Other Names: |
Summer Damask |
Botanical Name: |
Rosa x damascena |
Genus: |
Rosa |
Family: |
Rosaceae |
Native Location: |
Middle East |
Cultivation: |
Well-drained, moist, rich neutral to slightly acid soil (including clay) in sun. Rosa rubiginosa enjoys dry, calcareous conditions; R. laevigata thrives in poor soils, R. rugosa tolerates dry, sandy or coastal conditions. Remove dead and damaged wood, and prune lightly in early winter, removing weak growths. Most species and old roses flower on the previous year's growth and should not be cut back hard. Rose hips, especially of R. rugosa, may be damaged by birds. Leaves may be damaged by blackspot, downy mildew, rust, viruses, and sawfly. Buds and flowers are prone to attack by aphids. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in autumn (species only); by budding in summer; by hardwood cuttings in autumn. |
Harvest: |
Petals are collected when flowers first open and distilled for oil and rose water, used fresh for syrups, crushed into pastes, or dried for use in decoctions. Fruits are picked when ripe and used fresh or dried in decoctions, or made into syrups and candy. Seeds (R. rubiginosa) from ripe fruits are processed commercially for oil extraction. |
Height: |
2m (6ft) |
Width: |
1.5m (5ft) |
History: |
Whole books have been written about the glorious rose, inarguably the most beautiful and beloved of blossoms. For more than 3,000 years, this "gift of the angels" has delighted the senses and soothed the souls of people worldwide. Many marvelous myths have sprung up around the origins of the rose, but one ancient Greek legend stands above the rest. Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers, was wandering in the woods when she discovered the dead body of a lovely wood nymph. She called on the other gods and goddesses to help her transform the lifeless nymph into the most beautiful and enduring of flowers. Dionysus, the god of wine and pleasure, gave the flower its luscious nectar and scent; Aphrodite, the goddess of love, imbued the flower with her own pristine beauty; the three sister goddesses Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia—collectively known as the Graces—endowed the rose with their respective gifts of intelligence, happiness, and eternal youth. Finally, Chloris herself bestowed on the rose a shimmering crown of dewdrops and declared the blossom the "queen of the flowers". Through the ages, writers, painters, horticulturists, gardeners, florists, perfumers, lovers, and sensualists of every ilk have ensured that the rose's many delights remain forever immortalized. And if all that were not enough, the rose is also good medicine. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, and Romans used various rose preparations to treat over 30 different ailments—from coughs and kidney disorders, to fatigue and infections. And the herb is still used today for many of the same ailments. Rose petals (the plant's flowers), rose hips (the plant's fruits), and rose oil and rose water (both made from the petals) all have distinct therapeutic properties. Petals from the apothecary's rose and damask rose are most frequently used for medicinal purposes—in teas, rose oil, and rose water. Dog rose is the major source of rose hips used in teas. Rose hips from another Asian species (R. laevigata) with the unlikely common name Cherokee rose in the United States—but jing ying zi in the East—are also popular in the West, but only in the last 250 years. They have been used in Chinese medicine, however, for almost 2,000 years to fight bacterial and viral infections. Cherokee rose traveled to the United States in the mid-eighteenth century—via the East India Trading Company—and became Georgia's state flower. |
Warning: |
Hips and seeds contain irritant hairs. R. canina and R. rubiginosa are subject to statuatory control as weeds in some countries, notably in parts of Australia and the USA. |
Variants: |
Trigintipetala Syn. Kazanlik (Kazanlik Rose) Has very fragrant, semi-double, red flowers. |
Var. versicolor (York and Lancaster Rose) Bears loosely double flowers, to 6cm (2½in) across, marbled pale pink and deep pink. |
|
Hardiness: |
Z4 |
Parts Used: |
Flowers buds, petals. |
Properties: |
An aromatic, relaxing, tonic herb. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Rose has antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, digestive, expectorant, sedating, stomach-soothing, and tonic properties. Rose petals are taken internally—usually in teas—as a blood and nerve tonic to treat anxiety, bronchitis, canker sores, colds, congestion, coughs, depression, diarrhea, fatigue, menstrual cramps, and sore throats. They are used externally to treat headaches, irritated eyes, mouth sores, skin infections, sore throats, and wounds. Rose hips are used internally—in teas—as a general tonic (the herb is rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, and the B vitamins) and to treat bacterial and viral infections, colds, diarrhea, flu and upset stomach. Rose oil is sometimes used internally for bacterial and viral infections, but only under the supervision of a medical practitioner. It is most commonly used (inhaled) in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety and depression. Rose oil is used externally for inflammatory skin infections and to treat burns and scars. Rose water is used externally for irritated eyes and damaged skin. |
Preparation: |
To make a tea from the petals, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried herb and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, and drink up to 2 cups a day. To make a tea from the hips, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried herb and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, and drink up to 3 cups a day. |
Caution: |
Do not substitute hybrid or garden roses for medicinal roses featured here. Internal use of rose oil—which is generally considered nontoxic—should be done under the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner. Much rose oil is adulterated with other plant materials and filler. Pure rose oil is expensive and less widely available. |
Culinary Uses: |
Petals, with bitter "heel" removed, are added to salads, crystallized, made into jams, jellies and syrups; also used to scent tea. |
Economic Uses: |
Petals are used to make rose oil, rose absolute, and rose water, used in perfumery, and in bath and skin care products. Rose water is used to flavor candy (notably Turkish Delight), desserts, sorbets, mousses, jams, syrups, and jellies. Petals are crystallized for decorating cakes and chocolates. Dried petals and rosebuds are important ingredients of the N African spice mixture, ras el hannout; also used in potpourris. |
Bibliography: |
The Encyclopedia or Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp. 346-347 The Modern Herbal Primer by Nancy Burke Copyright©2000 Yankee Publishing, Inc. pp 121-123 |